"Brain" (Produced by Shlohmo) - Banks [SoundCloud Audio & Lyrics]

Fresh off a big 2013, Banks has begun 2014 by releasing a song from her upcoming debut album. "Brain" is a slow-building banger that was produced by the always-on-point Shlohmo, and you can stream it above.

Beginning as another characteristically sultry jam for Banks, she sings two verses as the music builds, then she goes up an octave and sings them again, albeit in a much more dramatic fashion. Despite the strength of her voice and the ice-cold quality of her lyrics, "Brain" really feels like Shlohmo's song. He impeccably sculpts a climax that refuses to abide by the paint-by-numbers "buildup / drop" formula that plagues so much electronic music, and tailors his reverb-y soundscape to perfectly match Banks' own emotional buildup. In an age when many collaborations seem phoned-in (or, more accurately, Dropbox'd-in), this one finds Banks and Shlohmo in the same room, on the same page.

For more of Banks' music, check out her Zumic artist page, and stay tuned for more info about her debut album.

Banks "Brain" lyrics:

But it's all the same
Like I had foreseen
That you would act like you are
Oh so cool you seem
Blending with that scene
Wearing what you think is hard

I can see you struggling
Boy don't hurt your brain
Thinking what you're gonna say
'Cause everything's a game
Always try to calculate
Trying to look smart
But not too smart to threaten anything they say

Source: Banks Official SoundCloud Page